Insurance for Counsellors

Key risks

Common industry risks

Understanding the risks in your industry and how our comprehensive coverage responds to protect your business.

The Risks

Risks Response

Privacy & Health Records

Alleged breach of privacy or health records legislation in the handling of sensitive client information, resulting in a claim or complaint.

Professional Indemnity Insurance may respond to claims arising from alleged breaches of privacy or health records obligations.

Investigation Costs

A complaint about your counselling services triggers a formal investigation by a regulatory body or professional association, resulting in legal costs.

Investigation Costs is a benefit commonly included in Professional Indemnity Insurance, which may cover legal expenses arising from a regulatory inquiry.

Third Party Property Damage

Liability arising if your counselling work damages a client's belongings, premises or other third party property.

Public Liability Insurance may respond to third party property damage claims arising from your business activities.

Professional Indemnity

Liability arising if a client claims your counselling advice or professional services caused harm, loss or financial damage, and seeks compensation.

Professional Indemnity Insurance may respond to claims of alleged negligence or errors in your professional services, including defence costs.

Public Liability

Liability arising if your counselling services cause third party injury or property damage to a client, visitor or member of the public.

Public Liability Insurance may respond to third party injury and property damage claims arising from your business activities.

Privacy & Health Records

The Risks

Alleged breach of privacy or health records legislation in the handling of sensitive client information, resulting in a claim or complaint.

Risks Response

Professional Indemnity Insurance may respond to claims arising from alleged breaches of privacy or health records obligations.

Investigation Costs

The Risks

A complaint about your counselling services triggers a formal investigation by a regulatory body or professional association, resulting in legal costs.

Risks Response

Investigation Costs is a benefit commonly included in Professional Indemnity Insurance, which may cover legal expenses arising from a regulatory inquiry.

Third Party Property Damage

The Risks

Liability arising if your counselling work damages a client's belongings, premises or other third party property.

Risks Response

Public Liability Insurance may respond to third party property damage claims arising from your business activities.

Professional Indemnity

The Risks

Liability arising if a client claims your counselling advice or professional services caused harm, loss or financial damage, and seeks compensation.

Risks Response

Professional Indemnity Insurance may respond to claims of alleged negligence or errors in your professional services, including defence costs.

Public Liability

The Risks

Liability arising if your counselling services cause third party injury or property damage to a client, visitor or member of the public.

Risks Response

Public Liability Insurance may respond to third party injury and property damage claims arising from your business activities.

Important: Scenarios are examples only. Coverage is subject to policy terms, conditions and exclusions. Limits and sub-limits might apply. Policy wordings vary between insurers. Refer to the PDS or Policy Wording for details.

Claim examples

Counsellors claim examples

Real-world examples of how our insurance helps protect nursing and their client

Rear-end collision

SCENARIO

In stop-start traffic on the way to a client visit, you run into the car ahead and crack their rear bumper. The other driver takes your details and makes a claim for repair costs.

WHY IT’S COVERED

Commercial Motor Vehicle insurance may respond to third party property damage claims arising from the operation of your insured vehicle.

Third Party Damage

SCENARIO

While in session with a patient you damage their brand new phone.

WHY IT’S COVERED

Public Liability cover may respond to claims for accidental damage to third-party property arising from your business activities.

Negligent Advice

SCENARIO

Your patient misunderstood your advice and now accuses you of destroying their relationship with their family.

WHY IT’S COVERED

Professional indemnity insurance may respond to claims arising from negligent advice or recommendations made in the course of providing professional services, including associated legal defence costs.

Physical Injury

SCENARIO

You unintentionally share your client's confidential details with a third party leading to mental trauma for your client.

WHY IT’S COVERED

Public Liability insurance is designed to cover third party injury claims and defence costs, arising from your business activities.

SCEANRIO

A support worker gave a participant the wrong medication due to a mislabeled pillbox. The participant experienced severe drowsiness and dehydration, requiring overnight hospitalization.

WHY IT'S COVERED

Costs included $8,200 for hospital and rehabilitation, $12,500 for legal defence, and a $7,500 settlement to resolve the claim out of court.

Rear-end collision

SCENARIO

A support worker gave a participant the wrong medication due to a mislabeled pillbox. The participant experienced severe drowsiness and dehydration, requiring overnight hospitalization.

WHY IT’S COVERED

Costs included $8,200 for hospital and rehabilitation, $12,500 for legal defence, and a $7,500 settlement to resolve the claim out of court.

SCENARIO

A support worker gave a participant the wrong medication due to a mislabeled pillbox. The participant experienced severe drowsiness and dehydration, requiring overnight hospitalization.

IS THIS COVERED?

Costs included $8,200 for hospital and rehabilitation, $12,500 for legal defence, and a $7,500 settlement to resolve the claim out of court.

FAQs

Counsellors insurance queries

How do I make a claim?

You should notify your insurer as soon as you become aware of a claim or circumstance that may give rise to a claim which could include a client complaint, you discovering an incident or an allegation of harm. Claims should be made in writing and handled in line with the claims notification requirements which will be outlined in your policy wording.

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How do I make a claim?

What is a Certificate of Currency?

A Certificate of Currency is issued by an insurance company and is something you can use as proof that your existing insurance policy is valid. It contains all the information regarding your policy. You may be asked from time to time to prove your insurance - for loans to your business, for landlords of your premises, or for certain clients you might have. The moment you purchase your insurance from upcover you can send your proof of insurance to whoever requires it, at just a click of a button.

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What is a Certificate of Currency?

How quickly do I need to report an incident to my insurer?

You should notify your insurer as soon as you become aware of any incident, claim, or circumstance that may give rise to a claim. Professional Indemnity insurance typically operates on a "claims made and notified" basis, meaning both the claim must be made against you AND you must notify the insurer during the active insurance period (or discovery period if applicable). Late notification after policy expiry may not be covered unless you have purchased an extended discovery period. Prompt notification is essential to protect your rights under your insurance.

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How quickly do I need to report an incident to my insurer?

What is a retroactive date?

A retroactive date is the earliest date from which a claim can arise and still be covered under your policy. Professional Indemnity and certain other claims-made policies will only respond to claims arising from acts, errors or omissions that occurred on or after the retroactive date listed in your policy schedule. If an incident occurred before your retroactive date, it typically will not be covered even if the claim is made during the current policy period. Maintaining continuous cover without gaps helps protect your retroactive date — check your policy schedule or ask your broker if you are unsure of your retroactive date.

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What is a retroactive date?

Do counsellors need Professional Indemnity insurance in Australia?

Professional Indemnity insurance is designed to cover claims arising from professional negligence, errors or omissions in the services you provide. While it is not a legal requirement for counsellors in Australia, it is commonly held by counsellors across Australia. Many clients, professional associations and booking platforms may expect you to hold current Professional Indemnity cover before engaging your services. Without this type of cover, you could be personally liable for legal costs and compensation claims. Speaking with an insurance broker can help you understand the level of cover appropriate for your circumstances.

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Do counsellors need Professional Indemnity insurance in Australia?

What insurance do counsellors typically have?

The insurance counsellors commonly hold depends on how they operate and the services they provide. This typically includes Professional Indemnity insurance, which is designed to respond to claims of professional negligence or breach of duty, and Public and Products Liability insurance, which is designed respond to third party bodily injury or property damage claims arising from business activities. Both covers may extend to investigation costs, and depending on the policy, defamation. Additional covers such as Commercial Property, Business Interruption and Employee Fidelity may also be relevant depending on business structure and services offered.

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What insurance do counsellors typically have?

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The information contained on this website is general advice only and has been prepared without taking into account your individual needs, objectives and financial situation. It should not be relied upon as advice. All insurance products are subject to the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions contained in the relevant policy wording and Product Disclosure Statement. Before deciding whether a particular insurance product is right for you, please consider your personal circumstances and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement, Target Market Determination, Policy Wording, and Financial Services Guide.

Insurance for Counsellors

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Common industry risks

The Risks

Risks Response

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Risks Response

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Risks Response

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Counsellors claim examples

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Counsellors insurance queries

How do I make a claim?

How do I make a claim?

What is a Certificate of Currency?

What is a Certificate of Currency?

How quickly do I need to report an incident to my insurer?

How quickly do I need to report an incident to my insurer?

What is a retroactive date?

What is a retroactive date?

Do counsellors need Professional Indemnity insurance in Australia?

Do counsellors need Professional Indemnity insurance in Australia?

What insurance do counsellors typically have?

What insurance do counsellors typically have?

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